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We are oh so close to midge-a-palooza on the Upper Madison and what could be the start of some very good fishing. For those that know, mid-March can be a pretty fun time to fish the walk-and-wade section. There have been sporadic reports of midges here and there and expect those reports to only grow in frequency and legitimacy. The Upper Madison River is in its late winter/early spring window of reliable fishing. Because this is also the start of prime spawning season for Madison River rainbow trout, it is crucial all anglers be aware of redds. Redds are areas of gravel in the streambed where trout are actively spawning. Hatches of midges, Blue Winged Olives, and March Browns can occur in abundance, but the subsurface action is quite good and should hang in there for the foreseeable future. Look for trout to feed in slower, deeper runs--which can be hard to find in the Upper Madison. But targeting water that is just a foot deeper and a tad bit slower can be the difference of a hole or bucket holding trout or not. If you find one fish, focus on that similar water and you may find more trout. Flows in the walk-and-wade section are a few hundred CFS lower than average which means wading anglers might can fish areas otherwise unreachable this time of year. Tandem subsurface nymph rigs with smaller flies are going to be the most successful. Choose your favorite midge or mayfly patterns such as Zebras, Sparkle Pupas, PTs, and the like. The proven tactic of a bugger and bead dragged through a run or bucket will also pull some fish, but because the prominent food sources at the moment are small, two small flies fished under an indicator will get it done more often than not.
For dry fly anglers, wait till later in the day when midges and Blue Winged Olives could hatch. Seek out slower pockets behind rocks or downstream of bankside structure. For BWOs choose your favorite hi-vis Parachute pattern and for midges a Buzzball or Hi-Vis Parachute Midge.
To get some useful knowledge and to expand your fly fishing horizons, be sure to read some of our recent blog posts featuring: 9 Great Flies for Large Trout Anywhere in the World, What Do Trout Need And How to Use That to Catch More Fish, Best Not-So-Secret Places to Fish in Montana This Spring, and The Mayfly You Need to Know: Catch More Fish by Understanding Blue Winged Olives.
The river between the lakes is fishing well and below Quake Lake the Upper Madison is going to be mostly a nymph fishing game right now.
Flies for the Madison Right Now:
Rainbow warriors in sizes 14-20
Firebead or hot bead SJ wormies in sizes 8-12
Zebra Midges in sizes 16-20
Beadhead PTs in sizes 18-22
Juju beatis in flash or tan in sizes 16-20
The Month Ahead:
Nymphing big protein flies like stoneflies, worms, sculpins, and eggs has been producing and will be the primary method and flies for the foreseeable future. Fish are in the slower deeper runs, so concentrate on deep, slow water and be patient--if you find one fish are you are likely to find more. Most brown trout are done spawning or will be done in the next few weeks, but please keep an eye out for redds and avoid walking on them or targeting them.
Long Term Fishing Forecast:
Fishing on the Upper Madison near West Yellowstone and down to Ennis should remain solid. Be cautious and avoid wading on redds. Hatches of Blue Winged Olives should increase in abundance. Flows may slowly rise, but will likely remain slightly below long term averages. Water temperatures will gradually increase which means the feeding window for trout will also be earlier, and longer, throughout the day.